where does meredith catchment lie and lie?

[annie]

if anything closings might make Meredith's catchment might expand.

Uh, not a chance. Meredith is pretty much at capacity (this is straight from the HSA president). They're hoping increased interest in Nebinger might take some of the pressure off. If I had a crystal ball, it's far more likely that a school like Nebinger might have its catchment expand.

[robot]

Given plans to close a number of schools, I wouldn't put all my eggs in the catchment basket.

Yeah, especially if you are looking at or near the boundaries of the catchment. I wonder if all this school district flux has affected real estate transactions in the better catchments?

We are much closer to Meredith than Andrew Jackson. My kid could walk to school if she went to Meredith, but I assume would have to take a bus to go to Meredith. That sucks. I'm hoping the catchment expands by the time she is school age, but if it doesn't we may consider renting a studio or something like that in the catchment. I work from home, so I could use it as an office too.

[annie]

I'm hoping the catchment expands by the time she is school age

I would not hold my breath on that. There was someone that showed up at an SRC meeting proposing exactly that for the same reason (Jackson too far to travel safely to, Meredith closer, "more part of the Meredith community") and basically got laughed out of the room. Ramos's response was that the person should be requesting crossing guards or transportation. Not the the district is a position to provide either.

[robot]

I would not hold my breath on that. There was someone that showed up at an SRC meeting proposing exactly that for the same reason (Jackson too far to travel safely to, Meredith closer, "more part of the Meredith community") and basically got laughed out of the room. Ramos's response was that the person should be requesting crossing guards or transportation. Not the the district is a position to provide either.

I don't really think the odds are good either but who knows. I'd like to know who made the proposal about moving the catchment, I may know them.

[Eastcoast]

I'm hoping the catchment expands by the time she is school age, but if it doesn't we may consider renting a studio or something like that in the catchment. I work from home, so I could use it as an office too.

The ethics of this aside if you are able to pony up the extra $750 a month for a studio (81K over 9 years) couldn't/shouldn't you be buying in the catchment?

Rather than spend 9 years without playdates, birthday or slumber parties for fear that one of the other parents will find out where your primary residence is and drop a dime on you?

Just sayin'

[GoBirds]

The ethics of this aside if you are able to pony up the extra $750 a month for a studio (81K over 9 years) couldn't/shouldn't you be buying in the catchment?

Rather than spend 9 years without playdates, birthday or slumber parties for fear that one of the other parents will find out where your primary residence is and drop a dime on you?

Just sayin'

Exactly. And as a future Meredith parent, I'd drop that dime in a second. It's actually a big problem already in the Meredith catchment.

[Ray K.]

As a current Meredith parent I don't think I would.... in fact I know I wouldn't.

[Eastcoast]

Exactly. And as a future Meredith parent, I'd drop that dime in a second. It's actually a big problem already in the Meredith catchment.

I suppose you could take the extortion approach...about $250 a month for your silence would cover the comcast bill. Premium channels baby!

[Cro Burnham]

I suppose you could take the extortion approach...about $250 a month for your silence would cover the comcast bill. Premium channels baby!

or it could cover some of the avi adjustment you will have to pay soon for living in a good catchment.

[Eames]

I know of two families who actually moved into the Meredith catchment area just so their kids could attend on an above board basis. The are renting, but never the less made the move for real. I don't have a kid in the school, but if i did, I would drop a dime in a second on the scammers. No different than I would on all the NJ registered cars whose owners actually live in Philadelphia, but keep the cars registered in NJ at parents' or other relative's address to save on insurance money while they take up parking spaces. I just can't stand scammers. Catchment areas are designated for many reasons, one among them being the school's enrollment capacity. Kids that don't belong there take up space, resources and teacher time that the kids who do belong there are entitled to. I suggest that if you don't like your catchment area's school, either work to improve it or move.

[lucidinnature]

Exactly. It's exactly why so many other school systems have gone to ****.

I know of two families who actually moved into the Meredith catchment area just so their kids could attend on an above board basis. The are renting, but never the less made the move for real. I don't have a kid in the school, but if i did, I would drop a dime in a second on the scammers. No different than I would on all the NJ registered cars whose owners actually live in Philadelphia, but keep the cars registered in NJ at parents' or other relative's address to save on insurance money while they take up parking spaces. I just can't stand scammers. Catchment areas are designated for many reasons, one among them being the school's enrollment capacity. Kids that don't belong there take up space, resources and teacher time that the kids who do belong there are entitled to. I suggest that if you don't like your catchment area's school, either work to improve it or move.

[thegreattwizz]

No different than I would on all the NJ registered cars whose owners actually live in Philadelphia, but keep the cars registered in NJ at parents' or other relative's address to save on insurance money while they take up parking spaces.

On this note, I have TWO NJ registered vehicles at my house, as my company (located in NJ), provides me with company cars. Even have parking permits for them, but the PPA neglects to see those permits on a regular basis, instead just writing over time tickets based non-PA plates. I'm sure I'm in the minority with this, but not all NJ tagged cars are scofflaws. Oh, and having explored both before moving (I do have personal vehicles that I keep in the suburbs), insurance is CHEAPER in QV than it would have been in NJ.

[annie]

School District nearing sale of old West Philly High, other vacant buildings | Philadelphia Public School Notebook

Take Jeff Hornstein, the president of the Queen Village Neighbors Association.
Hornstein says the single biggest thing that the upscale South Philadelphia community has going for it is the highly regarded Meredith Elementary School, which helps the neighborhood to attract and retain young, middle-class families.
One of the problems facing Queen Village, he said, is that Meredith is overcrowded. But a potential solution is right across the street: the School District’s vacant Education Services Building at 427 Monroe St.
“Meredith is an oversubscribed school,” Hornstein said. “The School District owns a building 50 yards away. So some people have asked why that doesn’t just become Meredith’s annex?”
Unfortunately, he said, no one from the District has come to Queen Village to listen to those kinds of questions and ideas from neighborhood residents.

The moneymen at the Philadelphia School Partnership etc. sure do like throwing their money at new construction projects but renovations and additions, especially for district schools, not so much. No surprise as PSP's founder made his money in real estate. It's expected that the Education Services Building will sell and be turned into apartments or condos.

[Brooke]

Who buys within a school district and doesn't even check out the school? (At which point, you'd ask if your house was in the catchment?) The first hit on google brings up my real estate brokerage's map and I'd still call to double check if the boundaries were at all close to the home at issue. I consider it my due diligence (as a real estate agent but because of who I am as a mom, I would too if I weren't an agent). Of course, if you already live in an area and aren't thinking about having kids and then it happens, I can understand being highly disappointed.

[OldMama]

Bumping this thread since the district announced the school closings. As Annie predicted, no one is being redirected to Meredith. I am at a loss to explain the plan for G.Washington and A.Vare. Washington's program is closing but the building remains open and Vare's building is closing and the program is moving to Washington?? What does that mean? Washington's staff goes and Vare's moves in?

I find it amazing that A.Vare has been open this long. I was a student intern there (in 1973, OMG) and there was talk about closing it back then. It's an extremely old building but was one of my favorite field placements. (I was at Washington, too, for that matter. I spent my lunches sewing buttons on my students' coats. The high rises were still there and I never saw such poorly cared for kids in my life.)